Mangalore: MCC Advisor Agrees to Modify Road Plan Following Citizens Protest
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network—Mangalore (RS/CN)
Mangalore, Sep 1: Dharmaraj, engineering consultant and advisor for the infrastructure development committee of Mangalore City Corporation (MCC), agreed to change the plans for road work on a particular stretch, based on the suggestions by citizens given at ‘Together for a Cause—Evergreen Kudla’, a meet held at Roshini Nilaya on Tuesday September 1.
The citizens gathered there demanded with raised voices that an alternate plan to widen and concretize the proposed road from Kankanady to Morgan’s Gate be finalized so as to save the trees between Kankanady and Marnamikatta, which were to be cut down as per the original plan.
The meeting started with organizer Eric Ozario and Vidya Dinkar, convener of Citizens Forum, speaking. Ozario said that Mangalore City Corporation, without any concern for the environment, was cutting down trees in the name of development. “It is not concerned about global warming; globalization is affecting everyone. So, we need to raise our voice before the MCC plan is implemented; saving trees is our main concern and it is our gift to global warming”, he said.
After a long meeting with the citizens and discussion of their views and opinions, a decision was reached to prepare a plan without felling a single tree. Venkatesh Pai, an architect, was appointed the representative to prepare an alternative plan after visiting the spot with Dharmaraj.
Dharmaraj also yielded to pressure for the removal of median points on this same road as it was disrupting traffic system, and assured that it would be done on Wednesday September 2.
Members from Citizen’s Forum, People’s Union for Civil Liberties, and like-minded organizations, along with the local residents, participated in the meeting.